Unfortuately no walk last week  due to family commitments. 

I managed a local walk today from home to Preston city centre via the docks and river Ribble. Hopefully normal service we be resumed later this week!

Preston dock's marina is just a short walk from home

....and again

Looking towards the city centre from the swing bridge entrance to the dock

Zooming in on St Walburge's church which has the tallest spire 309ft on a parish church in England

Leaving the dock I joined the Guild Way cycle path following the river Ribble

The docks was once served by a commercial railway link to the main line at Preston station. The link still exists and is now a heritage steam railway service

The Guild way passes through Miller Park with the old County Hotel (now an empty building) overlooking the park

....and again with the bandstand

This is the new "Old Tram Bridge" the original of which was badly damaged in flood waters and had to be demolished

The new one is due to open later this year

....and again from....

Avenham Colonade entrance to Avenham park where...

....there are two Sebastopol cannons brought here after the Crimean war, guarding this entrance to Preston City centre, from where I continued my walk back home.

Not quite the Lakes or Dales but at least a chance for some fresh air and exercise!

Watch this space for normal service to resume soon! 

 Glenridding Dodd, Sheffield Pike & Aira Force Ullswater

9.5miles 2500ft

Setting off from Glenridding & passing through the grounds of the lovely 'Inn on the Lake'

A brief look at Ullswater before....

....starting the climb to Glenridding Dodd

Looking over Glenridding to a snowy St Sunday Crag & Cofa Pike in the distance

Now on the summit of Glenridding Dodd 1467ft with Ullswater below....

...the sun was just rising on Glenidding village as I reached the top

The ferry landings at Glenridding

Continuing the climb to Sheffield Pike with snow on Birkhouse moor across the valley

Looking back to Glenridding Dodd....

....and ahead to the distinctive summit of 

Cat Stye Cam with Brown Cove below

Now on the summit of Sheffield Pike with a splendid view to the Helvellyn range

I met James and Ben here on the summit 2215ft.

Good luck with the remaining Wainwrights & the Pennine Way. Hope you enjoyed the rest of the day. 

From the summit I could see across to my eventual route down, the faint horizontal line half way up

Hart Side fell opposite. Well named as the

" Balcony Path!...."

First though I had to cross Nick Head.... 

....with further views to Cat Stye Cam and Helvellyn behind

Looking down Glencoyne.....

.....and back along the Balcony Path to Nick Head

Continuing the descent to Aira force...

....looking over Ullswater to Hallin fell as the ferry sailed down the lake

Arriving now at Aira Force which after all the rain and snow melt was quite a sight....

....and again

Finally crossing the bridge that would take me to the visitor centre for my lift back to my car

This had been a fabulous day in the fells. Unusually there was no cold wind on the summits and sun shone nearly all day. Lakeland at its wintry best

 The North Pennines

Newbiggin to Talkin via Cumrew fell Cardunneth pike Castle Carrock fell & Talkin fell

11.5miles 2230ft

Looking back down the path from Newbiggin

The shooting box where the grouse shooters have lunch and shelter

Reaching the top of Cunrew fell 1585ft and looking east as the sun appears on the horizon....

....and again

After crossing the summit I arrived at Cardunneth pike....

....with a rather hazy view to the northern Lakeland fells

Further across the summit was the trig point on Castle Carrock fell 1581ft... 

Leaving the summit I descended to Castle Carrock reservoir with another hazy view, this time across the Solway firth.... 

....where I was nearly run down by a horse & trap!

Lunch time on the side of the reservoir....

....and again

Leaving the reservoir I crossed the river Gelt...

....and continued to climb again to the cairns on Talkin fell

Pausing to look up Geltsdale 

Talkin fell summit 1250ft with its many cairns...

....and again

Starting the descent to the village of Talkin which is just visible near the horizon midway between the cairns

Looking across to Talkin tarn....

....and arriving in the village of Talkin to wait for my lift back to Newbiggin

Finally I couldn't resist a photo of one of these lovely old finger signposts.

I had the offer of a lift in the North of Cumbria and decided to have this week's walk in some new territory.

It turned out to be a great day's walking with plenty of interest and some great views